Carrying device for a baby or small child

ABSTRACT

Carrying device for a baby or small child, with a closable hip belt, at least two shoulder straps arranged on the hip belt and a fabric panel extending between the shoulder straps and joined to the hip belt, which fabric panel defines a seat and back support area for the baby or small child wherein the joint area of the fabric panel is arranged within an openable hip belt pocket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of German PatentApplication No. 20 2014 100 614.1 filed Feb. 12, 2014, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Disclosed herein is a carrying device for a baby or small child, with aclosable hip belt, at least two shoulder straps arranged on the hip beltand a fabric panel extending between shoulder straps and joined to thehip belt, which fabric panel defines a seat and back support area forthe baby or small child.

BACKGROUND

Carrying devices for babies and also carrying devices for small childrenwhich are tailored to the special requirements of babies or smallchildren are known from the prior art, i.e. there exist carrying deviceswhich are suitable for carrying babies, wherein the term baby or infantrefers to a child in the first year of life. Accordingly, a carryingdevice is used for a baby or for an infant for the first 12 months oflife, wherein such baby-carrying devices can no longer be used after theend of the first year of life as a result of body size and weight sincethese carrying aids are then too small. After the end of the first yearof life, one talks about the small child stage for which specialcarrying devices are constructed. It is often necessary to purchase afurther carrying device for a small child after the end of the infantphase.

For this reason, for example, carrying devices are known which makeavailable relative adjustment possibilities in terms of the back lengthof a carrying device for a baby or small child. For this purpose,adjustments usually have to be made to different belt straps.

SUMMARY

Proceeding from the above, embodiments disclosed herein provide acarrying device for a baby or small child which is particularly easy toadapt.

The described object is achieved in terms of the carrying device for ababy or small child which is particularly easy to adjust.

A carrying device for a baby or small child is provided with a closablehip belt, at least two shoulder straps arranged on the hip belt and afabric panel extending between the shoulder straps and joined to the hipbelt, wherein the fabric panel defines a seat and back support area forthe baby or small child. The carrying device accordingly comprises atleast one hip belt which is placed around the hip of the carrier and isclosed when carrying a baby or small child. Moreover, at least twoshoulder straps are arranged on the hip belt, which shoulder straps areplaced around the shoulders of the carriers in order to distribute theweight to be carried optimally to the areas of the shoulders, chest andin the area of the back of the carrying person.

Both shoulder belts can be connected by a further belt by means of aplug-in connection. This can, for example, involve a chest or back belt.This is dependent on whether the baby or small child is placed on thestomach of the carrier or on the back of the carrier. A fabric panel,which is additionally joined to the hip belt, extends between theshoulder straps of the carrying device. This fabric panel defines atleast one seat and back support area for the baby or the small child.The seat area involves the area of the fabric panel which is adapted tothe anatomy of the baby or child, in particular to the anatomy of thebaby or child's buttocks. The back support area involves the area of thefabric panel which serves to support the back and the area of the napeof the neck of the child.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, the joint area of the fabricpanel is arranged within an openable hip belt pocket. The joint areainvolves the area of the fabric panel which defines the area which isconnected or can be connected to the hip belt.

The openable hip belt pocket involves a pocket-type receptacle which isformed so that it can be opened and preferably also closed. The hip beltpocket can form a portion of the hip belt. It is conceivable that thehip belt extends through the hip belt pocket. The pocket is preferablyformed to be permanently closed on the underside, i.e. on the sidefacing away from the child or baby to be carried. The opening of the hipbelt pocket is in turn formed on the side or edge of the hip belt pocketfacing towards the baby to be carried or the small child to be carried.Insofar as the hip belt pocket forms, for example, a portion of the hipbelt, the hip belt pocket can be attached to the hip belt, in particularsewed on. Insofar as the hip belt extends through the hip belt pocket,it is, for example, conceivable that the lift belt is provided on bothsides with additional elements or that elements such as padded fabricelements are provided on both sides of the hip belt, which elements forma hip belt pocket.

The joint area of the fabric panel preferably has a tubular portion orcomprises a tubular portion through which either the part of the hipbelt located within the hip belt pocket or a belt strap arrangedseparately within the hip belt pocket extends. In other words, the jointarea of the material is formed to be tubular at least in portions,wherein a belt extends through the tubular portion. This belt caninvolve the part of the hip belt located in the hip belt pocket or abelt strap arranged separately within the hip belt pocket.

In one embodiment, the hip belt pocket can be formed from additionallypadded material so that the comfort of wear in the case of the carrierof the baby or small child in the hip area is correspondingly increased.It is possible that additional belt straps are incorporated or fitted inthe hip belt pocket or on the hip belt pocket in order tocorrespondingly reinforce the hip belt pocket.

The width of the fabric panel, preferably the width of the joint area ofthe fabric panel on the part of the hip belt or the separately arrangedbelt strap located within the hip belt pocket is preferably adjustable.In other words, the width of the fabric panel in the joint area of thefabric panel can be adjusted, wherein the adjustment can be performed atthe part of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt straplocated within the hip belt pocket.

The adjustment of the width of the fabric panel is carried out byvariably wide pushing together or pulling apart of the tubular portionvia the part of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt straplocated within the hip belt pocket. In other words, the fabric panel canbe adapted to the size of the baby or of the small child, wherein thewidth of the fabric panel is adjusted by pulling apart or pushingtogether the panel. Since the fabric panel is guided in a tubular manneraround a belt strap, which can involve a part of the hip belt or aseparately arranged belt strap, the tubular portion of the fabric panel,which represents the joint area of the fabric panel, can be pushedtogether or pulled apart via the belt.

This tubular portion can be pushed together or pulled apart along thepart of the hip belt located within the hip belt pocket or along theseparately arranged belt strap. The desired adjustment of the width ofthe fabric panel for different baby or small child sizes is thuspossible. The two outer ends of the joint area of the fabric panel arepreferably assigned fixing means, in particular snap fastener elementsfor progressive fixing, or Velcro fasteners for continuous fixing, orthe like, which interact with complementary fixing means on the partlocated within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separatelyarranged belt strap for the purpose of width adjustment of the fabricpanel. The two outer ends of the joint area of the fabric panel involvethe two outer ends of the tubular portion of the fabric panel, i.e. theregions located close to the openings of the tubular portion. The twoouter ends of the joint area or the two outer ends of the tubularportion have fixing means, wherein these fixing means are formed in acomplementary manner to fixing means which are located on the partlocated within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or on the separatelyarranged belt strap.

The fixing means of the fabric panel can involve, for example, snapfastener elements such as snap fastener recesses which enableprogressive fixing of the fabric panel to the hip belt pocket. It ispossible that Velcro fasteners are used as fixing means which enablecontinuous fixing. Fixing means which are complementary to snap fastenerelements or Velcro fasteners are located on the part of the hip beltlocated within the hip belt pocket or on the separately arranged beltstrap.

It is conceivable that at least two, in particular three, four, five, orpreferably six snap fastener elements arranged at a distance to oneanother, e.g. snap fastener heads, are provided on each side relative tothe center of the part arranged within the hip belt pocket of the hipbelt or of the separately arranged belt strap. A back panel, which has acomplementary number of snap fastener elements, can be adjusted sixtimes by arrangement or formation of at least six snap fastener elementson each side, i.e. by formation of a total of 12 snap fastener elements.In other words, six different width adjustments are possible inconjunction with the fabric panel. The invention also encompasses suchembodiments which comprise snap fastener heads on the fabric panel andcorresponding snap fastener recesses on the hip belt pocket, inparticular on the hip belt and/or the separate belt located therein.

The adjustment or width adjustment of the fabric panel is carried out bycorresponding fixing in the inside of or within the hip belt pocket. Thehip belt pocket is preferably formed to be closable. A closing of thehip belt pocket can be carried out, for example, by means of Velcroand/or by means of snap fasteners and/or by means of hook/eye connectionand/or by means of zip fasteners.

In one preferred embodiment, at least two zip fasteners are provided onthe upper side of the hip belt pocket. The upper side of the hip beltpocket involves the side of the hip belt pocket which has an opening,i.e. the side of the hip belt pocket which points towards the buttocksor in the direction of the baby or of the small child. The two zipfasteners are preferably formed at the two outer ends of the upper sideof the hip belt pocket. It can be provided that no zip fastener isarranged in the area of the fabric panel or in the joint area of thefabric panel to the hip belt pocket so that, for example, acorresponding wear of the fabric panel as a result of grinding at a zipfastener is avoided.

It is conceivable that the hip belt pocket is sufficiently large toaccommodate baby items such as cream containers, diaper mats, etc. Inother words, the hip belt pocket has such a size to serve the purpose ofadditional accommodation of baby items.

It is furthermore possible that a newborn insert can be fixed in the hipbelt pocket. A newborn insert serves to support or provide additionalsupport for the body of a newborn. Infants in the first four weeks oflife are generally referred to as newborns. A newborn insert iscorrespondingly adapted to the size and the weight of a newborn so thatbabies, in particular also newborns, and also small children can becarried with the carrying device according to the invention since awidth adjustment of the fabric panel is possible in the openable hipbelt pocket and a newborn insert can also be fixed in the hip belt.Insofar as a newborn insert for carrying a baby with the carrying deviceis not (no longer) necessary, the newborn insert can be stored, inparticular rolled away, in the hip belt pocket.

Further embodiments will become apparent from the subordinate claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Following is a description of an exemplary embodiment which is explainedon the basis of the figures. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the carrying device according to theinvention for a baby or small child with an open hip belt pocket;

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b show a schematic representation of various embodiments ofa hip belt pocket; and

FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional representation in order to illustratethe arrangement of the joint area of the fabric panel around a beltstrap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The same reference numbers are used for identical parts and parts withan identical effect in the following description.

FIG. 1 shows a carrying device according to embodiments disclosed hereinfor a baby or small child with a closable hip belt 10. Two individualsegments of hip belt 10 are represented schematically which can beconnected to one another or closed via a clasp, not represented, so thata closable hip belt 10 is formed. The carrying device furthermore has atleast two shoulder straps (not represented) arranged on hip belt 10. Afabric panel 11, which is linked to hip belt 10, extends between theshoulder straps.

The fabric panel defines a seat and a back support area for the baby orthe small child to be carried, wherein only seat area 12 is representedin FIG. 1. Seat area 12 is preferably formed in such a manner that ashaping is formed in the region of the buttocks of the baby or the smallchild, for example, such that an outwardly directed bulge is formed andthe buttocks of the baby are lower than the knee of the child. Such abulge is in particular advantageous when carrying newborns.

The fabric panel furthermore has a joint area 13, wherein said jointarea 13 of the fabric panel is arranged according to the inventionwithin an openable hip belt pocket 14.

Hip belt pocket 14 can form a portion of hip belt 10. It is possiblethat hip belt 10 extends through hip belt pocket 14. With regard to thevarious embodiments of a hip belt pocket, reference is made to FIGS. 2 aand 2 b.

A tubular portion 15 is encompassed in joint area 13 of fabric panel 11,through which tubular portion 15, in the represented example, the partof hip belt 10 located in hip belt pocket 14 extends or, for example,alternatively a belt strap arranged separately within hip belt pocket 14extends.

Width B of fabric panel 11 can be adjusted at the part located withinhip belt pocket 14 of hip belt 10 or of a separately arranged beltstrap. The adjustment of width B of fabric panel 11 is carried out byvariably wide pushing together or pulling apart of tubular portion 15via the part located within hip belt pocket 14 of hip belt 10 or also ofthe separately arranged belt strap, not represented in FIG. 1. Two outerends 16 of joint area 13 of fabric panel 11, which also represent bothouter ends 16 of tubular portion 15 of fabric panel 11, are assignedfixing means, in the present case snap fastener recesses 17 forprogressive fixing, wherein the fixing means located on outer ends 16,i.e. the snap fastener recesses, interact with complementary fixingmeans, i.e. snap fastener heads 18, which are arranged on the partlocated within hip belt pocket 14 of hip belt 10 for the purpose ofadjustment of width B of fabric panel 11.

At least two, in the present case six snap fastener part elements orsnap fastener fixing means, namely snap fastener heads 18 arranged at adistance a to one another are provided on each side relative to center Mof the part arranged within hip belt pocket 14 of hip belt 10 or of aseparately arranged belt strap, not represented. Distance a of snapfastener heads 18 to one another corresponds to distance c of snapfastener recesses 17 located in each case on an outer end 16 of jointarea 13 of fabric panel 11. In the present exemplary embodiment, twosnap fastener elements or snap fastener fixing means, namely snapfastener recesses 17, are formed on each outer end 16 so that the forcesacting on the outer ends of joint area 13 can be distributed evenly andadditionally a double securing means is present in relation to two snapfastener recesses 17 arranged next to one another.

After adjustment of width B of fabric panel 11 by variably wide pushingtogether or pulling apart of tubular portion 15 via the part of hip belt10 located within hip belt pocket 14, the fixing of joint area 13 offabric panel 11 within open hip belt pocket 14 can be carried out bysnap fastener fixing once desired fabric panel width B is reached.

For a continuous fixing of the joint area of the fabric panel, the twoouter ends of joint area 16 can, for example, have a Velcro fastenerwhich interacts with a complementary fixing means, namely a non-wovenmaterial, which is located on a hip belt or on a separately arrangedbelt strap within the hip belt pocket.

In the present case, hip belt pocket 14 is formed by a folded fabricopening 20 which is padded and forms an opening 19. Padded materialelement 20 ensures in the region of the hip belt additional padding andcorresponding comfort of wear in the case of the carrier. The foldeddown fabric element layers are fixed, in particular sewed, to oneanother at outer ends 21 of padded fabric element 20. Hip belt 10 canalso be fixed within hip belt pocket 14, in particular sewed.

Hip belt pocket 14 is preferably formed so as to be closable. For thispurpose, at least two zip fasteners 23 are provided on upper side 22 ofhip belt pocket 14. Zip fasteners 23 preferably extend from outer ends21 of padded fabric element 20 up to fabric panel 11. Center M of hipbelt 10 or width B of fabric panel 11 is preferably not closed with azip fastener since this could lead to corresponding damage to fabricpanel 11.

Hip belt pocket 14 preferably has sufficiently large dimensions thatbaby items such as cream containers, diaper mats, etc. can be stored inthe hip belt pocket.

A newborn insert 24 can furthermore be fixed in hip belt pocket 14.Newborn insert 24 serves the purpose of additional support of the smallnewborn body so that it can be stored rolled up within hip belt pocket14 in the case of non-use or corresponding size of the baby. In order toensure adequate holding of the newborn by means of a newborn insert 24,newborn insert 24 is fixed at least on padded fabric element 20,preferably on a reinforced belt strap. This can be carried out with thehelp of a Velcro fastener or a snap fastener or a hook/eye fixingelement.

Various embodiment possibilities in terms of the hip belt pocket and thehip belt are represented in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b.

Two hip belt portions 10 a and 10 b, namely a left-hand hip belt portion10 a and a right-hand hip belt portion 10 b are represented in FIG. 2 a.Hip belt pocket 14 is connected to left-hand hip belt portion 10 a andright-hand hip belt portion 10 b. Hip belt pocket 14 is preferably sewedand/or glued to hip belt portions 10 a and 10 b. A separate belt strap25 is arranged within represented hip belt pocket 14. Separatelyarranged belt strap 25 can be sewed and/or glued to hip belt pocket 14.

In FIG. 2 b, hip belt pocket 14 is formed as a portion of hip belt 10,wherein hip belt 10 extends through hip belt pocket 14.

It is conceivable that at least in portions a hip belt 10 and inaddition at least one further separately arranged belt strap 25 arelocated in a hip belt pocket 14.

According to a schematic sectional representation, FIG. 3 representstubular portion 15 of a fabric panel 11, wherein, for formation oftubular portion 15, joint area 13 of fabric panel 11 is guided or woundaround hip belt 10 so that, in the event of connection or fixing of endportion 26 of fabric panel 11 to wound-around fabric panel 11, a tubularportion 15 is formed through which the part of hip belt 10 locatedwithin a hip belt pocket 14 extends. A snap fastener head 18 arranged onfabric panel 11 as well as a snap fastener recess 17 formed in acomplementary manner thereto, which is located or formed on hip belt 10,are also apparent.

It should be pointed out at this point that all of the parts describedabove in the context of the embodiments according to FIGS. 1-3 areclaimed as relevant to the disclosure seen alone or in any combination,in particular the details represented in the drawings. Modifications tothis are familiar to the person skilled in the art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Hip belt

10 a, 10 b Hip belt portion

11 Fabric panel

12 Seat area

13 Joint area fabric panel

14 Hip belt pocket

15 Tubular portion

16 Outer end of the joint area

17 Snap fastener recess

18 Snap fastener head

19 Opening of the hip belt pocket

20 Padded fabric element

21 Outer end padded fabric element

22 Upper side hip belt pocket

23 Zip fastener

24 Newborn insert

25 Separate belt strap

26 End portion fabric panel

B Width of the fabric panel

M Center hip belt

a Distance snap fastener heads

c Distance snap fastener recess

1. Carrying device for a baby or small child, with a closable hip belt, at least two shoulder straps arranged on the hip belt and a fabric panel extending between the shoulder straps and joined to the hip belt, which fabric panel defines a seat and back support area for the baby or small child, wherein the joint area of the fabric panel is arranged within an openable hip belt pocket.
 2. Carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the hip belt pocket forms a portion of the hip belt.
 3. Carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the hip belt extends through the hip belt pocket.
 4. Carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the joint area of the fabric panel comprises a tubular portion through which either the part of the hip belt located with the hip belt pocket or a belt strap arranged separately within the hip belt pocket extends.
 5. Carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the width of the fabric panel on the part located within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap can be adjusted.
 6. Carrying device according to claim 5, wherein the adjustment of the width of the fabric panel is carried out by variably wide pushing together or pulling apart of the tubular portion via the part located within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap.
 7. Carrying device according to claim 1, wherein two outer ends of the joint area of the fabric panel are assigned fixing means, in particular snap fastener part elements for progressive fixing, or Velcro fasteners for continuous fixing, or the like, which interact with complementary fixing means on the part located within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap for the purpose of width adjustment of the fabric panel.
 8. Carrying device according to claim 4, wherein at least two, in particular three, four, five, or preferably six snap fastener part elements arranged at a distance to one another are provided on each side relative to the center of the part arranged within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap.
 9. Carrying device according to claim 1, wherein at least two zip fasteners are provided on the upper side of the hip belt pocket.
 10. Carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the hip belt pocket has sufficiently large dimensions for accommodating baby items such as cream containers, diaper mats, etc.
 11. Carrying device according to claim 1, wherein a newborn insert can be fixed in the hip belt pocket. 